Kauāe Runga Kauāe Raro • February Moon: Keeper of Knowledge

Knowledge was stored in three baskets in the realm of the heavens. In one
basket was tapu, sacred elements that were passed from the gods, like
karakia (incantation) and whakapapa (genealogy). The second basket
held ideals, like aroha (love) and maanaki (caring) for one another. The
third basket contained skills that were either taught or could be learnt.
The path to this knowledge was achieved by a stairway or a path to the
heavens, which are now depicted in tukutuku (decorative reed panels
in a meeting house). The sculpture honours the moko kauae (female
facial tattoo).

Lewis Gardiner is regarded as one of the most innovative and
respected Māori jade artists of his generation. In 1994, he graduated
in Māori Craft and Design at the Waiariki Institute of Technology
in Rotorua. During his final year he was introduced to the valuable
medium of pounamu (jade) and was immediately attracted to its
artistic possibilities. Māori had always valued pounamu for both its
hardness and for its translucent beauty. Lewis was no different — as
he says, “Our tupuna (ancestors) have given us, the Māori people,
the resource and knowledge base to provide a reference for us
and our children for years to come.”